Bolter and Chainsword (http://www.bolterandchainsword.com) is an online message board community dedicated to all those power armored factions withing GW’s WH40k world (Space marines, Chaos Space Marines, Sisters of Battle, Grey Knights). Several members developed a cool little distraction called Arena of Death. This is a basic system, that employs an approximately 2ft by 2ft board to pit heros from various armies against each other in a king of the hill scenario.
The B&C group recently showed off their game at the recent GW LA Gamesday in Ontario California:
for the ruleset simply goto the B&C site and download the free set for yourself.
Jes Goodwin and Phil Kelly held new product seminars at the recent LA Games Day held on August 23rd. Cameras were not allowed during most of the session, but we were able to share our audio recording of the event and their comments as well as the question and answer session.
This was my first time observing one of their presentations and q&a sessions, and I was very impressed by their enthusiasm for the game and their interaction with the audience.
I had a chance to walk the GW Gamesday floor and visit the various club tables, demonstration tables, Golden daemon painting competition, new product displays, and various events.
It presents users the opportunity to play heros or villains in a generic metropolis city on some alternative earth. As such it is not based on Marvel or DC universe, but does provide the look and feel of a super hero based world, where super heros and villains are common place in the world.
The game is set with each super hero or villain to have a playing card to represent the statistics of the model. Each models statistics are grouped into 3 groups of 2 stats each, plus a number of hit points. The stats represent the models ability to melee, shoot, run, take damage, activate and his mental ability.
As can be seen by looking at the cards, this is a very abbreviated version of Statistics compared to other super hero systems such as Hero System’s Champions.
In addition, each model has unique skills and team abilities that make it a special super, which in this world is called a Supreme.
When characters have a special item, this is represented to the player by a resource card, which provides the player with all the relevant information regarding the item or resource.
Privateer Press introduced the concept of cards for each unit and since then many miniature game companies have adopted this system. The advantage of this, is that players don’t have to keep their rule book so immediately at hand to play and compare their units when engaging and during game play.
Now we played a scenario that had each player playing a super hero/villian each, but this game can also be played simply by two people, one person playing one team, and the other playing the other team. By having multiple players, who must share activation points this introduced a very strong RPG group versus group component that could either be a good thing or not depending on how you are approaching this game. As a miniature game player, I found this taking away from the aspect of the game that I came to look at, while talking with a friend who came to the game by RPG, he found it refreshing and enjoyable to have to negotiate and talk with his fellow players to achieve the team goal (or individual goal if your agenda is different from the team).
Speaking of activations. This is an alternating activation game, where each side takes turns activating one of his teams models for one action before turning it over to the other side. To do this, the model takes one activation from the team pool of activations to accomplish his action. Each model has a maximum number of activations that he/she can do each turn. What this means though, is that most models will not use their maximum number of activations since the team pool isn’t large enough to do this. This is where the difference between an RPG group and a miniature player will see how the game plays. A team of players must negotiate among themselves to see who gets the activations that turn, while a single player will simply make his own tactical choice to achieve his team goal.
This unique dynamic will be what makes of breaks this game system.
The models are fantastic. How can you not appreciate a cigar chomping guerilla holding a 50 caliber machine gun, or any of the other unique models sculpted to fit this unique universe.
Darkson Design teamed up with Pulp City to host a joint event to demo their models and systems at Gencon Indi 2008.
1 hour demo is divided into 7 segments.
Ever wanted to participate in a 2 hour event, but they aren’t holding it in your area. Well this is what Gencon Indianapolis is great for. All those small systems that never make it you your local gaming store for demos.
I was interested in both Darkson designs’ alternative World War II system AE WWII and Pulp City’s super hero system. The designers are good friends and decided to host some cross-over events at Gencon, allowing me to see both sets of models and systems in place.
The following 2 hour demo/event has been condensed down to 1 hour in 7 parts.
Parts 1 through 4 are all set up explanation of the system and scenario, while 5-7 are the actual scenario being played.
Both systems are an alternating activation system, that allows both sides of the battle to remain engaged in the course of the game by keeping them actively involved in the play throughout the game, no taking a nap or going to get lunch while your opponent takes his or her turn.
AE WWII has every unit on each side activating for each turn, while Pulp City provides a pool reservoir of actions that can be used to activate the units on each side. Pulp City’s has a maximum number of activations per model, but if you run out of activations in your pool, your side is done that turn, even if your model has not reached its maximum number of activations yet.
Both systems do not allow you to cross over turns to perform multi-activation actions (such as loading which requires 2 activations). AE WWII does have the ability for one model to loan its activations to other models, allowing that other model to activate more times than normal.
As expected, Pulp Cities super heros and villains have multiple wounds, while AE WWII’s individuals have only from 1 to 2 wounds for each model.
AE WWII weapons run the anticipated range of weapons that were available during the time period of 1935 to 1942, but it add in a whole another range of sci-fi and psionic weapons due to the alternative history and expansion of the war from a very Pulp comic book view point. This makes for some very interesting combinations and made for a great pairing with Pulp City and its super heros.
Problems I foresee for Pulp city is making a unique place for itself in the Super-hero miniature market. They do have more depth than Hero clix, so don’t go into the game expecting just another game of that. These super heros/villians have agendas to help make their roles unique. But Pulp City might have to do more to make itself more unique than a Champion (Hero Systems) competitor or any of the other Superhero RPG systems that are out there.
AE WWII has created a unique environment for itself that sets itself apart from Flames of War or other WWII miniature games in the market. The designers at Darkson Designs provided a sneak peek at several new models and vehicles to show that the vision that is pushing AE WWII is seeking a fresh approach and is actively seeking to grow their line with quality sculpts and vehicular rules.
What was apparent from both AE WWII and Pulp City is that models and units will die, so the battlefield situation is very dynamic and require tactics and thought to achieve your objective. The straight forward “hulk smash” mentality will not help you achieve your gaming goals in either of these games.
Well got to go by the Exhibit booth for the miniature contests for Gencon Indianapolis, Privateer Press and Dark-age Miniatures.
Of course the miniature contests were not the only miniatures on display at Gencon, so I added the few randomn shots that I also picked up of various miniatures that I ran across at the convention.
I’m not sure how many of you were able to go by the Privateer Press’ booth at Gencon Indianapolis, but there was a beautiful diarama at the front edge of the booth:
Well, as part of Gencon Indianapolis, I was able to observe and video tape one of the card games produced by Privateer Press: Infernal Contraption.
The point of the game is to have your bodger (a little goblin like techy) build the best “Infernal” machine that will beat out from 1 to 3 opponents (making this a good 4 player game).
This is a great beer and pretzel game to wile away the evening with a group of friends.
It has been out for about a year and has come out with one expansion deck to add to the mayhem.
It is lots of fun and I would recommend that anyone pick it up for some evenings of light entertainment.
So Second day at Gencon Indianapolis, the self-reported best four day of gaming on the planet earth.
So far I would not dispute this claim as I have had a blast at this convention, just as I have had in years past.
I have taken the time to bring you my video from today’s events:
I also was able to talk with Galeforce 9 regarding their new Warcog line of templates and tokens for miniature gaming enthusiasts.
I took a painting seminar from Amy Brehm (http://www.amybrehm.com) regarding painting and blending with Metallics. Great stuff, if anyone has the chance to take one of her classes, I would highly recommend this.
I will have to work on getting video of her seminar up, as It is 30 minutes in length and I will have to break it up to upload it.
I spent another day hanging around the Privateer Press booth today, and they were totally mobbed for a second day due to the pre-release of their Monsterpocolypse game and their latest update to Warmachine, by releasing Legends. I also got to watch Matt from the Privateer Press painting studio and see him do some wonderful things with blending and the new Epic Eryriss:
I was able to pick up two new and exciting Painting videos today also. The first is produced by Jeremy B and was being distributed by Kraken Productions, and sold by the Warstore (http://www.thewarstore.com). The second was produced by the Privateer Press Painting Studio team, and was sold directly by Privateer Press (http://www.privateerpress.com) at their booth!
Well more tomorrow
Miniature Peddler
MiniaturePeddler's Weblog 
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